Circular-warp-knitting machine.



W. A. LAWRENCE.

CIRCULAR WARP KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED JAN. 24, 1911.

1 ,OO5,'72'O. Patented Oct. 10,1911.

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. CIRCULAR WARP KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1911.

1,005,720. Patented Oct. 10,1911.

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CIRCULAR WARP KNITTING MACHINE.

'APPLIOATION FILED JAN.24, 1911. v 1,005,720.. Patented 001.10,1911.

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CIRCULAR WARP KNITTING MAGHINE.

APPLIOATION PILED JAN.24, 1911. I I

' Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

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CIRCULAR WARP KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION I'ILED JAN. 24, 1911.

1,005,7201 Patented 001111911.

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WILLiAM a. nawnmrcn, orrouenxnizrsm, NEW YORK, nssronon 'no IDEAL, LINEN lar Warp Knitting section on line 00-40 of Fig. 6.. Fi 8 is a detail view illustrating a section 0 a typi cal fabric made by the machine, drawn to mass comm, or rouenxnnrsm, new YORK.

' cmcuLAa-wAar-xmr'rme 'maenmn- To all whom it ma/y concern:

Beit known that 1, WILLIAM .A. Law- RENCE, citizen of the United States, residing at Poughkeepsie', in the county of Dutchess and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Circuachines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the 1 nvention, such as will enable others skilled 1n the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an im rovement 1n circular warp knitting machines and consists in the features of novelty hereinafter pointed out, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which show one embodiment of the invention which I have selected for the purpose of illustratinfgl my invention, and the said invention is lly disclosed in the following description and claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of the main or central portion of a machine embodying purpose of illustrating the invention, the

thread supplying devices at the upper part of the machine being removed and also the supporting legs for the main frame in order that the remaining portions of the machine may be illustrated on a larger scale. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the rings carrying the thread guides and the accom panying parts. Fig. 3 is an elevation on the same scale as Fig. -1 showing the thread supplying means omitted in that figure. Fig. 4 1s a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 2.. ig. 5 is a detail top plan view of one quarter of the lower inner and outer rings showing the means for pivotally mounting the thread guides, the retammg plates or segments being removed. Fig. 6 .1s a side elevation of the machine omitting the threadsupplying devices and the lower portions of the-supporting le s, and illustrating' the pattern wheels an the gearing for driving the same. Fig. 7 is a,-horizontal an enlarged scale.

The object of my invention is to provide-' a. circular warp knitting machine in which in such manner that said thread there are two circular series of thread guides, said (guides being pivot'ally mounted and operate positively to move them from a position within the circle of the needles to the exterior of said circle and vice versa,

relieved from strain, and their movements are rendered positive at alltimes, and my invention further includes certain details of construction hereinafter fully set forth.

In the embodiment of my invention which I have selected for purposes of illustration and which is shown in the accompanying drawings, the main frame of the machine comprises a rin or plate 1 provided with suitable standar s 2, 2, which may be mounted on a bench or other support but which in this instance are secured to a supporting base comprising a ring castin 3 provided with. three or more supportin egs or standards 4, the lower ends of w ich rest upon the floor. The plate 1 is provided with a' vertically movable needle cylinder 6, which is milled to receive the needles 7, said needles being held rigidly in the kerfs of the needle cylinder by a band or bands 8. The needle cylinder 6 reciprocates vertically on the lmitting cylinder 5, and is prevented from turning thereon by suitable vertical keys. 9, which in this instance are secured to the inner surface of the needle cylinder and engage corresponding grooves 10 in the knitting cylinder.

The needle'cylinder is reciprocated by means of two eccentrics 11 on the main driving shaft 12 of the machine which is mounted in the side bars 2, 2 of the main frame, the eccentrics being connected by straps 13, 13 and rods 14, 14: with pins 15, 15 extending on opposite sides of the needle cylinder. Each of the eccentric rods is formed in two sections having an adjustable connection indicated at 16, so that the vertical throw of the needle cylinder can be adjusted.

It willbe understood that all of the needles are simultaneously raised and lowered and that the knitted fabric passes down through the knitting cylinder 5, and

guides are or formed I Specification oil-otters Patent. P t t t, 10, 19 Application filed January 24, 191-1. Serial m. 00am.

through the aperture 1 in the plate 1, and thence to a take up mechanism of Ordinary or preferred construction. As this take up mechanism forms no part of my invention,- I have not illustrated it in detail and it is sufficient to say that it comprises preferably a frame 17, hinged to ears secured to the base ring 3, and carrying clamping rolls 18, 18 which are driven by worm or other gearing from a shaft 19, carrying a grooved pulley 20 connected by a belt 21 to a grooved pulley 22 on the drivlng shaft 12. The belt 21 supports the frame of the take up and thus provides sufficient friction to rotate the take up rollers. If the rollers take up the goods faster than it is knit, the belt 21 is thereby slackened and the operation of the rollers ceases until the belt is again drawn taut by the lowering of the take up frame. A ring 23 is supported above the top of the knitting cylinder in positions to engage the latches of the needles to prevent them from flying up when the needles are raised.

Upon the plate 1 of the main frame are mounted vertical posts or columns 25, 25 carrying a cross bar 26 in which is rigidly mounted by meansof set screws or otherwise, a supporting bar 27, circular in cross section which carries the thread guiding mechanism. The machine is provided with as many pivoted thread guides as there are needles in the needle cylinder, said guides being divided equally into two series, each of which is arranged in a circle, one circularseries being located within"the other. In order to pivotally support and operate the thread guides two pairs of concentric rings or plates are provided, one pair being located above the other, and all being supported by the said supporting bar 27. To the lower end of said bar is'secured a collar 28, having on its upper face an annular ball race, and upon said bar above the collar 28 is-rotatably mounted the inner guide supporting plate orring 30, the lower face of its hub being provided with a ball race, and balls are inserted in the ball races between the plate 30 and collar 28 to reduce the friction to a minimum. A

The peripheral portions of the plate 30 are provided with radially disposed kerfs to receive the inner set of guides '31 which are preferably formed of thin sheet tool steel or other sheet metal of the proper gage to fit the kerfs in the plate, and are pivotally mounted therein. In order to secure the pivotal mounting-of these guides thev top face of the ring or plate 30 is provided with an annular groove,'to receive curved pivot sections 32 preferably formed of piano wire, see Fig. 5. By this means, a number of the thread guides provided each with its pivotal aperture, can be placed in engagement with one of the pivot sections 32, and pressed into their respective kerfs in the ring so that the pivot sectionwill fall into the annular groove in the plate. The pivot sections may be held in place in the groove by any suitable means. In the'present instance I have shown segmental cover plates 33 having kerfssawed therein to correspond with those of the plate 30, and adapted to be placed over the annular groove and pivot sections to hold the latter against displacement. The cover plate segments are secured in place by screws and can be separately removed and replaced to facilitate the making of repairs.

The upper end of each of the inner guides is preferably angular as shown and provided with a cam slot 31 disposedat an angle of substantially 51 degrees. Above the supporting plate or ring 30 is a guide operating plate 35 which is rotatably mounted on the bar 27 and is also capable of vertical sliding movementthereon. The two plates 30 and 35 are connected for joint rotary movement by guide pins 34 secured to the plate 30 and extending vertically' through guiding apertures in plate 35, and said guide rods may be provided with-stop pins, as 36, 36 to limit the upward movement of the plate 35. I prefer also to provide a spring 37 between the plates 30 and 35 to hold the latter in its raised position as shown. The upper face of the plate 35 is also provided with an {annular ball race and balls as indicated for a purpose hereinafter described. The ring or plate 35 isprovided with a series of kerfs to receive the upper ends of the inner series of thread. guides which are connected thereto by an actuating pin or pins 37 engaging the inclined slots insaid guides. The pins 37 are segmental in shape, are formed preferably of piano wire, and are inserted in an annular groove formed in the outer face of the plate or ring 35 and held therein by curved cover plates 38, which have kerfs to correspond with those of the ring 35, this construction being so similar to'the means for securing the pivot segments in position, that it is believed to be unnecessary to further illustrate or describe the same.

Surrounding the supporting plate 30 is an annular supporting plate 40 which is provided with radial kerfs in which are mounted the outer series of thread guides 41 which are pivoted therein in the same manner as previously described with reference to the inner plate 30, and as clearly shown in Fig. The upper ends of the outer guides 41 are provided with angular portions having inclined slots therein disposed at an angle of 45 degrees, and engaging kerfs in an outer operating ring 45. The

ring 45 is provided with segmental actuat;

ing pins 47 engaging the inclined slots in the thread guides, said pins being held in place in an annular groove on the periph:

ery of the ring 45 by curved plates 48 in a manner simllar to that previously described with reference to the pivot pins. The outer operating ring 45 is supported by means of a transverse yoke 50 (see Figs. 2 and4) which extend across the ring. above the inner ring 35, and is provided witha central aperture engaging the bar 27 and with an annular ball race engaging the balls in the ball race on the upper face of the inner operating plate 35. I also prefer to provide the outer rings 40 and 45 with shoulders on their inner edges which overhang recessed portions of the adjacent inner rings respectively and I also provide the upper actuating ring with retaining plates 52 which extend over the adjacent edges of the outer actuating plate 45 and insure the simultaneous depression of said plates or rings 35, 45.

The two outer rings or plates and are connected for joint rotary movement by guide bars 44, 44 secured to the lower ring 40 and extending vertically through guiding apertures in the ring 45 and provided preferably with stop pins 46, which limit the upward movement of the upper ring 45 and also tend to transfer the welght of the lower ring 40 to the ball bearings before described, thus reducing friction to a minimum in rotating the rings as hereinafter described. It will also be seen that the outer actuating ring 45' can be reciprocated vertically on the guides 44, 44 with respect to .the outer guide supporting ring.

Each of the thread guides 31 and 41 is provided with a thread delivery eye 31 or .41 at its lower end .to which a separate thread is led from a warp beam 60, supported in a well known way above the guide supporting and actuating rings. In the present instance the cross bar 26 is provided with vertical supports 61, 61 (see Fig. 3)

which carry the warp beam, and the latter .is' provided with a suitable friction device orbrake 62, comprising in this instance a brake band clamped around one end of the beam secured to one of the supports 61 and provided with an adjusting screw 63. The

threads on said beamare equal in number to the thread guides and needles, and are drawn through suitable guides as for example, a circular guide p the top of the bar 27, and provided with a circular series of guide holes around the periphery of said plate, onefor each thread. Alternate threads are led through thread guiding apertures 35 and'30' in the inner actuating and guide sup orting plates to the thread apertures, of t e inner series of guides, and the other threads are led through suitable guides 40 formed in or secured to the outer rings 4001* 45 or both,

as preferred, to the delivery. eyes :of theouter series of. thread guides.

ate 64 secured to The thread guides of the inner and outer series are so spaced as to be capable of being'brought into radial alinement, and to be simultaneously swung outward and inward between the needles. This is accomplished by depressing and raising the actuating rings or plates 35 and 45 causing the pins 37 and 47 thereof to slide downward in the inclined slots in the guides and moving said guides as stated. For effecting this movement of the actuating plates I employ a lever which for convenience I term the depressing lever, pivotally mounted in ears depending from the cross bar 26.and having forked inner end portions 71 having tapered projections 71 engaging the yoke 50 and lateral studs 71", which take under segmen-' tal brackets 51 secured to the yoke 50, so that the actuating rings can be positively raised and lowered by said lever. The outer end 72 of the lever 70 engages a horizontally slotted collar 73 adjustably secured by a set screw to a vertical rod 74 extending through guiding apertures in the plate 1 and cross bar 26, and carrying at its lower end a forked portion 75 having a guiding engagement with the driving shaft 12 and having thereon a friction roll 76, engaging a cam 77 on said shaft for imparting the desired movement to said rod, and the lever 70. The upward movement of therod 74 will cause the lever 70 to depress both of the actuating rings 35'and 45 and spread both series of thread guides causing them to pass to the outside ofthe needles and compressing the spring 37. The downward moveouter guide supporting and actuating rings or plates is effected in the following manner. At the rear of the machine are a pair of vertical pattern wheels and 90 mounted on a horizontal shaft 78, parallel with the drivin shaft 12 and driven therefrom for examp e, by "a train of gearing, as shown in Fig. 6, consisting of gear 12', 12", 12, 12"

whichin the present instance transmits motion from shaft 12 to shaft 78 at the rate of 4 to 1. The pattern wheels are provided on their peripheries with pattern cam portions which are repeated four times, as will be readily understood. The pattern wheel 80. is engaged by a friction roll 81 adjustably secured to a horizontal arm 82 of a bell crank lever pivoted on a shaft mounted on themain frame and the other arm 83 extends vertically and is connected by a link 84 with en-arm 85 which is secured to the upper ends of the verticalguiderods 34,

connecting the inner guide supporting and actuating rings. The other pattern wheel 90 engages a friction roll 91 adjustably secured to a horizontal arm 92 of a similar bell crank lever, the upper arm 93 of which is connected by a link 94 withone of the vertical guide rods 44 connecting the outer guide supporting and actuating rings 40 and 45. By means of these pattern wheels the inner and outer sets of guides can be swung or turned horizontally into different relations with each other both while they are retracted within the circle of the needles and when distended so as to lie outside the circle of the needles and the pattern of the knit fabric is thus controlled. When desired the pattern wheels may be removed from the shaft 7 8 and other pattern wheels may be substituted for the purpose of changing the pattern of the mesh which is to be knit on the machine.

It will be seen that the thread guides are positively actuated and controlled in all their movements and that said guides being pivotally mounted and actuated as to their radial swinging movements by the engagement of the pins of the actuating plates with the inclined slots 'in said guides, the guides are relieved from strain and can be operated indefinitely and at high speed without danger of injury or breakage. The diiference in the angles of the slots in the inner and outer guides is made on account of the fact that it is desirable to have the distance between the pivotal axes of the inner and outer guides greater than the distance between their delivery eyes, and it is found in practice that with the angles specified the portions of said guides carrying the delivery eyes will swing between the needles almost in a horizontal line below the plane of the beards of the needles when the latter are in their raised position and thus deliver their threads accurately to the needles.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a circular warp knitting machine, the combination with a circular series of needles, and actuating mechanism therefor, of two concentric circular series of pivotally mounted thread guides, independent means for moving the thread guides of each series in a rotary direction, and means for posi- 3. In a circular warp knitting machine,

the combination with a circular series of needles and actuating mechanism therefor, of .two concentric series of pivotally mounted thread guides, independent means for moving the guides of each series in a rotary direction, actuating devices for each series of guides having a part operatively connected with the thread guides thereof, and movable in a rotary direction therewith but capable of vertical movement with respect to said guides, the connections between each of said vertically movable parts and its connected thread guides being constructed to effect a rocking movement of said guides on their pivots when said parts are raised and lowered. i

4. In a circular warp knitting machine, the combination with a circular series of needles, and actuating mechanism therefor, of two concentric rotatable supporting rings, a circular series of thread guides pivotally mounted in each of said rings, an actuating ring located adjacent to each supporting ring and connected thereto for joint movement in a rotary direction, said connections permitting the relative movement of said rings in a direction perpendicular to the plane of movement in a rotary direction, positive but movable connections between said guides of each series and the actuating ring therefor, for effecting a rocking movement of said guides on their pivotal connections by a relative movement of said actuating rings and supporting rings for each series of guides with respect to each other, independent means for efi'ecting the movement of said supporting rings and their connected actuating rings in a rotary direction, and means for effecting the relative movement of said supporting rings and actuating rings with respect to each other.

5. In a circular warp knitting machine, the combination with a circular series of needles and actuating mechanism therefor, of two concentric circular series of thread guides, two rin s for each series of thread guides connecte for joint movement, but capable of relative movement in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said rotary move: ment, the guides of each series being pivotally mounted in one of said rings 'andhaving a positive but sliding en agement with parts carried by the connecte but relatively movable rin for efi'ectin a rocking movement of sai guides on their pivots by the relative movement of said connected rings, independent means for moving said connected rings in a rotary direction, and means for effecting a relative movement of said connected rings.

I 6. In a circular .warp knitting machine,

the combinationwith a knitting cylinder, a

*circular series of needles and; means foractuatfing the same, of a pair of, concentric rting rings, a circular series of thread rings and provided with inclined slotted portions, an actuating ring conngcted for oint,movement in a rotary direct1on, with each of said' supporting rings, ,butcapable oil vertical movement with; respect thereto,-

;each of said actuating rings being prxwided; with actuating pins engaging the slotted '7 portions of the guides carried by its connected supporting ring, independent means for eflecting the movement of said connected rings in a rotary direction and means for raising and lowering said actuating rings with respect to their connected supporting rings. v

7. In a circular warp knitting machine,

the combination with a knitting cylinder, a

circular series of needles and means for actuating the same, of a pair of concentric supporting rings, each provided with curved grooved portions, a circular series of thread guides for each of'said rings each provided with a pivotal aperture, segmental pivot pins engaging said apertures and lying in the grooved portions of their respective rings,

' retaining devices secured to said rings for holding said segmental pins in said grooves,

an actuating ring for each supporting ring the combination with a knitting cylinder, a

circular series of needles and means for actuating the same, of a pair of concentric supporting rings, each provided with curved grooved portions, a circular series of thread guides pivotally mounted in each of said supporting rings, each guide being provided with an inclined slotted portion, an actuating ring for each supporting ring connected therewith for joint movement in a rotary direction but permitting the relative movement of said actuating ring with respect to the connected supporting ring, each of said actuating rings being provided with a curved grooved portion, segmental actuating pins engaging the slotted portions of I the guides of each series and lying in the curved grooved portions of the actuating ring therefor, retaining devices for holding the es pivotally mounted, in each of said tions of said rings, independent means-for effecting the movement of saidconnected ringsan a rotary direction and means for depressing and raising said actuating rings.

9,111 a circular warp knitting machine, the combination withja knitting cylinder, a circular series of needles and actuating mechani m for the same,'-of a vertical supporting ar located above and concentric with; the series of needles. and-having-awsupportmgbearing at its lower end, aninner supportlngring rotatably mounted on said bar, and engaging said supporting bearing, an inner actuating ring mounted on said bar, above the supporting ring, vertical guide rods connecting said .inner rings but permitting the vertical movement of the 'actus I segmental actuating in the grooved por ating ring, an outer supportingring surrounding the inner supporting ring; an outer actuating rmg above the said outer supportmg'mng, vertical guide rods connecting said outer rings but permitting the vertical.

movement of the outer actuating ring', a

yoke extending across the outer actuating ring and havin a bearing portion adjacent to the said bar or supporting the outer'ring,

an elevating and depressing mechanism having portions operatively engaging said yoke, independent means for movmg said inner and outer connected rings in a rotary'direction, and a circular 861168 of. thread guides pivot-ally mounted in each of said supportingrmgs and provided with inclined slotted portions, and actuating 'pins carried by each .of said actuating rings and engaging the slotted portions of the guides carried by its connected supporting ring.

10. In a circular warp knitting machine, the combination with a knitting cylinder, a circular series of needles and actuating mechanism for the same, of a vertical supporting bar located above and concentric with the series of needles and having a sup-' porting bearing at its lower end, an inner supporting ring rotatably mounted on said bar, and engaging said supporting bearing, an inner actuating ring mounted on said bar,

above the supporting ring, vertical guide rods connecting said inner rings but permitting the vertical movement of the actuating ring, an outer supporting ring surrounding f the inner supporting ring, an outer actuating ring above the said outer supporting ring, vertical guide rods connecting sai outer rings but permitting the vertical movement of the outer actuating ring, said vertical guide rods being provided with stops forlimiting' the upward movement of the actuating rings, and for supporting the weight of the outer supporting ring from its connected actuating ring, a yoke extending across the outer actuating ring and provided with a supporting bearing portion adjacent to the central supporting bar above the inner actuating ring, meaI 1s for normally slotted portions of the guides carried by its 10 holding the inner actuat ngrlng in its highconnected supporting rlng. est position, mechanlsm for depressing and i In testimony whereof I aflix my signature,

elevating said actuating rings, a circular sein the presence of two witnesses.

ries of thread guides pivotally mounted in each supporting ring,,each of said guides WILLIAM LAWRENCE being provided with an inclined slotted Witnesses:

portlon and actuating pins carried by each WILLIAM I. GAvEN,

. of said actuating rings, and engaging the ALEXANDER OAV'EN. 

